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My OB just had me get an EKG, but I haven't gotten the results yet. She is very cautious and has had me get every test imaginable to get a baseline of my health for this pregnancy, in case I develop PE again. She ordered it when she realized my nephrologist hadn't ordered one yet. I was seeing a nephrologist instead of a cardiologist for my post-PE hypertension care because I only have one kidney and need to have it checked out once a year anyway, but now my OB is managing all my care. My mom jokes that she is only ordering all these tests because I have insurance that will pay for them, but they do make me feel better (at least I know she is taking it seriously).

I never quite found more detailed information about the type of cardiovascular disease that PE ladies are at risk for. Any reference I have found usually just mentions that women who have had PE are at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. Is there any more info available on that?

I'm not entirely sure what to think about more screening, actually. We're already known to be at high risk of heart disease, and if it's asymptomatic but we're already doing the things we're supposed to be doing to strengthen our hearts and manage our existing risks, then I'm not sure a screening test would provide more information. I wonder if there would be anything we would do differently if they did an echo and found something, or if it would just be an expensive test that says yep, you're still supposed to get more exercise and keep your weight down...

Caryn, @carynjrogers, who is not a doctor and who talks about science stuff *way* too much
DS Oscar born by emergent C-section at 34 weeks for fetal indicators, due to severe PE
DD Bridget born by C-section after water broke at 39 weeks after a healthy pregnancy

I didn't just have asymptomatic postpartum heartfailure, I had symptomatic heart failure during the pregnancy! My heart has since returned to normal, but my primary care doc has been very reluctant to do any more aggressive testing/treatment for cardiovascular disease. I'm guessing she is not up to date on this research, but I may push it a bit more now.

Mama to Millie
born June 2010 @ 24 wks. gestation due to my severe PE and CHF
lived 25 days, loved and missed

I did after my second round of preeclampsia and my blood pressure never quite came back down to my pre-pregnancy baseline. I went to the cardiologist and my heart checked out ok. My HDL levels are low though.

Since I'm hypertensive I'm on a low dose of BP meds to help lower my long-term risks.

The majority of preterm preeclamptic women have stage B asymptomatic heart failure postpartum, and 40% develop essential hypertension within 1 to 2 years after pregnancy. Women with a history of preterm preeclampsia may benefit from formal cardiovascular risk assessment in the 1 to 2 years after delivery to identify those who would benefit from targeted therapeutic intervention.

Caryn, @carynjrogers, who is not a doctor and who talks about science stuff *way* too much
DS Oscar born by emergent C-section at 34 weeks for fetal indicators, due to severe PE
DD Bridget born by C-section after water broke at 39 weeks after a healthy pregnancy